Chapter 605 - 608: Since You’re Already Here

Chapter 605: Chapter 608: Since You’re Already Here

Li Liao was the last in line. Seeing what was happening, he pulled his foot back from the threshold.

He stood firmly outside the door, craning his neck to look inside.

Since no lamps were lit, the room was pitch-black. He could only vaguely make out a few silhouettes, unable to see the situation clearly.

Hua Manman said to the inn attendant.

"I accidentally spilled the soybeans. Would you mind getting a broom for me? I need to sweep them up."

The attendant could only clutch his rear end as he stood up and limped out.

During this interval, Hua Manman lit the oil lamp on the nearby cabinet.

Li Ji grabbed the four assassins, shoving two under the bed and the other two into the wardrobe.

Yue Niang had also climbed up from the floor.

But with the floor covered in soybeans, she couldn’t move rashly and could only stand rooted to the spot.

She looked at Li Ji and asked in surprise.

"What are you doing here?"

Li Ji replied calmly, "I’m here to ensure the Young Master’s safety."

Hua Manman nodded in agreement. "That’s right. He was worried something might happen to me, so he came to my room early to stand guard."

Yue Niang understood. At the same time, she felt a little hurt.

’The Young Master would let someone else spend the night in his room, but he refused me.’

Li Ji heard her thoughts, and a smug smirk played on his lips.

The attendant returned with a broom.

He didn’t let Hua Manman lift a finger. In a flash, he had swept up all the soybeans on the floor.

He had intended to sweep under the bed as well, but Hua Manman stopped him.

"This is good enough for now. It’s very late, and you must be tired. Please go get some rest. Cleaning under the bed can wait until tomorrow."

The attendant was, in fact, exhausted.

While he was sweeping, he had checked that none of the room’s furniture or decorations were damaged, and he felt secretly relieved.

"Well, I’ll be heading back then. If you need anything, Sir, just give me a shout."

Hua Manman gave him a small tip and sent him on his way.

She closed the door.

Hua Manman gave a rough account of what had just happened.

Upon hearing that the Young Master had nearly been killed, Yue Niang was still shaken with fear.

She couldn’t help but draw a little closer to Hua Manman and said anxiously.

"Thank the Bodhisattva, you’re safe."

Li Ji dragged the two assassins out from under the bed.

He forced his way between Hua Manman and Yue Niang, pushing them apart.

The distance between them widened.

Li Ji threw the assassins onto the floor.

"What do we do next?"

Li Liao’s original plan had been to throw this batch of assassins into the river, too. If two consecutive groups of men disappeared without a trace, Lu Kai would naturally take them more seriously. He would likely find an excuse to dispatch a large number of soldiers to surround and destroy them.

When that happened, Lu Kai would have overwhelming numbers. Hua Manman and her party wouldn’t be able to escape even if they sprouted wings.

But that would inevitably cause a huge scene.

Hua Manman could seize the opportunity to reveal her identity and let everyone in the city know that the Young Master of the Yu Royal Mansion was back!

In front of so many people, no matter how resentful Lu Kai felt, he wouldn’t dare to do anything to Hua Manman openly.

He would have no choice but to bite the bullet and take Hua Manman back to the Yu Royal Mansion.

Once back in the Yu Royal Mansion, Hua Manman would have a chance to get close to Lu Kai.

Then, she could assassinate him when he least expected it.

But now Li Liao had a simpler, more direct plan.

He looked at Yue Niang and asked.

"You work for Lu Kai. He should know who you are, right?"

Yue Niang nodded. "Yes. My grandmother was once a nanny who served the Second Master. After my grandmother left the Prince Mansion, she always kept in touch with people there. She used her connections to send me into the Prince Mansion to sing and play for the guests. That’s how I met the Second Master once."

’Actually, my grandmother wanted to send me to Lu Kai’s bed.’

’But Lu Kai was too busy for other things that day, so my grandmother’s hopes were dashed.’

Li Liao said, "In that case, the people in the Prince Mansion should know who you are. If you were to show up at the Prince Mansion carrying our heads and asking for an audience, they would surely let you in."

Yue Niang’s face paled. She looked terrified and shook her head frantically.

"No, I never thought of killing you! I sincerely want to follow the Young Master."

Hua Manman took her slender hands and said soothingly.

"Don’t be nervous. We believe you, of course. What my father said is just one part of the plan. We’re not actually asking you to kill us."

Li Ji coughed pointedly.

Remembering how her own ’poor paws’ had almost been rubbed raw, Hua Manman resentfully let go of Yue Niang.

Yue Niang, captivated by her words, didn’t notice the strange interaction between them.

"The plan you mentioned, Young Master...?"

Hua Manman explained, "Since Lu Kai wants us dead, you’ll bring him our heads to claim a reward."

Yue Niang replied, "Even then, the Second Master won’t necessarily agree to see me."

Hua Manman said, "You can leak a piece of information. Say that you’ve discovered my identity is unusual, that I might be the Princely Heir of the Yu Royal Mansion. To find out if it’s true, Lu Kai will definitely summon you himself."

Yue Niang’s eyes lit up with understanding. "I see."

Then she frowned in thought.

"But that raises a question. Where are we going to get three human heads?"

Hua Manman, Li Ji, and Li Liao all turned in unison to look at the four black-clad, masked assassins.

Their gazes were predatory, like beasts that had locked onto their prey.

One of the assassins happened to wake up at this moment.

The moment he opened his eyes, he met three pairs of sinister gazes. He shuddered in fright and cried out.

"What do you want?"

Hua Manman rubbed her hands together. "Well, since you’re here, you can’t just leave empty-handed, can you?"

Assassin: "..."

’What the hell does she mean, "since you’re here"?!’

「The next morning.」

Yue Niang had someone carry a heavy wooden box out of the inn and settled the bill for the rooms.

She boarded a carriage heading for the Yu Royal Mansion.

Hua Manman, Li Ji, and Li Liao were disguised as servants. Dressed in coarse linen clothes, the three of them sat in a row on the driver’s shaft.

Li Ji sat in the middle, with Li Liao on his left and Manman on his right.

The shaft was narrow, and it was quite a squeeze for the three of them.

Li Ji kept shifting his weight to the left, trying to make more room for Manman to sit comfortably.

Li Liao said drily.

"Son, if you squeeze me any more, I’m going to fall off this thing."

Li Ji replied, "It’s fine. Your martial arts are good enough. You could keep up with the carriage on foot."

Li Liao retorted, "You and your wife get to ride, while you make your old man run behind the carriage? Does that seem right to you?"

Li Ji calmly replied, "I’m just concerned that you’re getting on in years. I thought you could use the exercise."

Li Liao sneered, "Oh, I’m so very grateful to you!"

The father and son began their daily bickering.

Suddenly, a clamor arose from up ahead.

People on the side of the road were buzzing with discussion.

"Did you hear? The Second Miss of the Yu Royal Mansion, the one who defected, has been caught!"

"For real?"

"It must be true! She’s already been taken to the Yu Royal Mansion. Loads of people saw it happen just now!"

Hua Manman froze.

’Isn’t the Second Miss of the Yu Royal Mansion Lu Wanqing?’

’I heard she had formed her own force and was operating around Longdong County.’

’How did she get caught?’